Tuzmen: U.N. Gave Exporting Permission For Contracts Worth Of Usd 133 Million Belonging To Turkish Companies In Water Refining Sector In Iraq

ANKARA - State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said on Monday that the United Nations (U.N.) gave exporting permission for contracts worth of 133 million U.S. dollars belonging to Turkish companies in water refining sector in Iraq.
Tuzmen said that lists concerning contracts which were expected to be put into practice till the end of November under the U.N. resolution were announced by U.N. Iraq Program Office and stated that contracts which were signed before Iraq war continued to be carried out.
He noted that there were projects including Basra Water Refining System worth of 25 million U.S. dollars, Kefri Drinking Water project worth of 22 million U.S. dollars, Al-Qaim and Rowa Water Refining Facilities worth of 9 million U.S. dollars and contracts regarding water treatment equipment worth of 8 million U.S. dollars, pipe worth of 57 million U.S. dollars, pump worth of 4.5 million U.S. dollars and generator worth of 4.5 million U.S. dollars.
Stating that total amount of contracts belonging to Turkish companies reached 432 million U.S. dollars under the Oil-for-Food program, he said that this figure would reach 800 million U.S. dollars till the end of 2003.
Tuzmen noted that Turkey's exports to Iraq increased by 187 percent in June and by 198 percent in July when compared to the same months last year and exports amounted to 105 million U.S. dollars in June and 114.7 million U.S. dollars in July.
He said that Turkey's exports to Iraq increased by 38 percent to 364.8 million U.S. dollars between January and July 2003 when compared to the same period last year.
Tuzmen stressed that Turkish companies' contracting projects reached 100 million U.S. dollars in Iraq.
Stating that taxes for import from Iraq were lifted after war ended till the end of the year, Tuzmen said that however trucks from Turkey paid taxes which did not have any legal basis when they passed from Habur border gate to Iraq.
He said that this situation affected negatively Turkish products' competition power in Iraqi market and stated that if those problems were solved, imports from Iraq would increase rapidly.
(EÖ-AÖ) 04.08.2003
SOUTHEAST ANATOLIAN BUSINESSMEN DUE TO IRAQ

DIYARBAKIR - Association of the Southeast Anatolian Businessmen (GUNSIAD) will organize a trip to Iraq to get share from the Iraqi market after the war.
GUNSIAD Chairman Bedrettin Karaboga told A.A correspondent on Monday that they would organize a trip to Iraq on August 24 to develop both the region's export potential and also the border trade.
Karaboga said that the trip to Iraq would last for five days and it would be held to bring economic input to the region and to set up business relations. Karaboga said that 30 businessmen would attend the visit.
Karaboga said that the first visit would be limited to 30 persons, but they would later increase this number.
''We'll go to Mosul, Arbil, Sulaymaniyah, Duhok and Kirkuk. We will meet with officials from official institutions, trade chambers and with tradesmen during the business trip,'' he added.
(Öª) 04.08.2003